LAWR

April 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 29 Opportunity knocks for RDF Bywaters' David Rumble discusses the development potential for Europe's refuse derived fuel (RDF) markets and the financial and environmental opportunities this presents for UK local authorities. DF is a product formed from the residual frac- tion of general waste once recyclates have been recovered in mate- rials recycling facilities (MRFs). This material is then shredded to become a homogenous mass prior to baling and transportation to one of Europe's energy- from-waste (EfW) facilities. RDF offsets the use of traditional fossil fuels in ener- gy production whilst reducing the envi- ronmental impact of landfill and helping control future waste management costs through the avoidance of landfill tax. The quality of RDF impacts the gate fee charged for its disposal and is defined by its calorific value (typically 6MJ/ KG – 12MJ/KG) and also its consistency. RDF with a consistent high calorific value such as the material produced by Bywaters benefits not only from a lower gate fee but also very stable off-take demand. One way UK local authorities could optimise the potential of the RDF markets is to reduce the amount of food waste in their residual waste fraction through source segregation. This would improve the quality of their RDF and recyclates and well as producing a waste stream, which could be recycled and used to produce energy through pro- cesses such as anaerobic digestion. Despite the development of the European RDF market in recent years there remains a significant opportu- nity for growth and for us to reduce the amount of waste we send to land- fill in the UK. There is capacity both in European EfW facilities but just as importantly the transport routes needed to cost effectively backhaul the fuel, which keeps costs and emissions down. Transport costs of RDF are vital as for a market to be viable we have to get it facilities and dispose of it cheaper than we could in UK landfill. Whilst we continue to experience some reservations regarding the devel- opment of the European RDF market, with some feeling that we should man- age the material on our own shores, our informal conversations with local authorities indicates that there is no objection to development of European routes for RDF, as long as it can be dem- onstrated that there is an environmental advantage and a commercial beneficial. The reality is that the R1-rated facilities to which our RDF is being sent means that they recover both energy and heat and as a result are highly efficient. There are only a couple of these facilities in the UK making capacity and logistics a problem. Indeed, we would often have to travel further to a UK facility than a European one. UK R1 capacity looks unlikely to increase in the near future as neither the Government or industry is likely to foot the bill to retrofit existing facili- ties and financiers are not inclined to invest as they take a pan-European view where there remains plenty of capac- ity. However, the capacity issue is one that remains under review. In Defra's recently published 'Energy from Waste: A guide to the debate' report, it reiter- ated its intention to publish a call for evidence on the RDF export market. We welcome the opportunity to dem- onstrate the environmental benefits of the European RDF market but also to discuss the opportunity to develop its use in the UK where it is undoubtedly a lost resource. Probably the biggest restraint to the development of RDF markets has been the limitation of our own imaginations. Quite often it is thought of as too dif- ficult either geographically, logistically or administratively. The reality is that there are opportunities to develop new routes and facilities for this material if we are prepared to open our minds. There has been a lot of discussion recently about 'end of waste' status for RDF, which would mean it could be used in a non-WID (Waste Incineration Directive) compliant facilities. Our belief is that this is probably a step too far. In summary, whilst we would all love to see a UK market capable of sustain- ing all the RDF we produce we must be prepared to open our minds and take a wider European view, recognising the commercial and environmental benefits of waste as a fuel as opposed to landfill. R MAPPING THE MRF David Rumble is strategic development manager at Bywaters. Bywaters' flagship MRF in Lea Riverside in east London

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